(L to R) Denis Leary, Dana Walden, Co-Chairman, Disney Entertainment, Ray Romano, Tim Allen, Queen Latifah, Tom Hanks, Dwayne Johnson, Catherine Laga’aia, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, Chris Evans, Joe Russo, Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios, Anthony Russo and Alan Bergman, Co-Chairman, Disney Entertainment attend the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Cinemacon 2026 on April 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Disney.
Preview:
Walt Disney Studios made its presentation to the 2026 CinemaCon crowd.
Among the movies promoted were ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’ and ‘The Dog Stars’.
And, of course, ‘Avengers: Doomsday’.
Once the all-conquering ruler of the box office, Disney has seen its fortunes take a tumble in the last couple of years, with the likes of Marvel and Pixar movies suffering issues at the box office.
Still, the Mouse House still has quite the line up, with the likes of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ as big hope points.
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Pixar, meanwhile, has a new ‘Toy Story’ offering, and ‘Star Wars’ is back on the big screen. Plus ‘Moana’ is getting the live-action treatment. Let’s see what the company chooses to spotlight…
The typical studio sizzle reel kicked things off, with plenty of Disney highlights and wrapping with riffs on ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ –– the countdown clock that has been part of the promos so far counting down to zero and the caption “Disney will return to CinemaCon.”
There is, of course, a little boasting to de done about last year’s success stories, including a joke about renaming ‘Zootopia 2’ to “Zootopia $1.9 billion”.
(L to R) Matt Kalavsky, SVP, Domestic Distribution, The Walt Disney Company and Andrew Cripps, Head of Theatrical Distribution, Disney Entertainment Studios speak during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Cinemacon 2026 on April 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney.
With the comedy sequel just a couple of weeks away from release, there wasn’t too much on it, just a quick video message from Anne Hathaway: “20 years later, we are back!” She also thanked theater owners for their support.
But did also cue up some new footage from the movie. Three words: Miranda. Priestly. Zingers.
Jon Favreau speaks during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Cinemacon 2026 on April 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney.
Surely one of the biggest titles (outside of the MCU) to be showcased here is the return of ‘Star Wars’ to the big screen.
Writer/director Jon Favreau arrived on stage to remark how the opening shot of the original ‘Star Wars’ changed the path of his life, and how there will be plenty of IMAX footage in the new movie. Not to mention a fresh score from composer Ludwig Göransson.
Favreau announced the final trailer for the movie (which you can see above) and also showed the opening sequence, which includes an AT-AT in the snow before we watch Mando (Pedro Pascal) get his next bounty hunting gig.
If you’re wondering whether ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ got a mention, the answer is yes –– but only in picture form, and nothing we haven’t seen before.
(L to R) Tom Hanks and Tim Allen speak during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Cinemacon 2026 on April 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney.
We went from the galaxy far, far away to the Pixar universe, via some ‘Toy Story 5’ footage. This time around, Woody (who has been off helping rescue other toys) and Buzz, along with their friends, must confront a new toy in Bonnie’s life –– a tech gadget called Lily Pad (voiced by Greta Lee).
Tim Allen (Buzz) and Tom Hanks (Woody) strode on stage to talk about their latest animated effort. The pair exchanged light banter, made fun of working off of a teleprompter and gave plenty of love to the Pixar team. They also introduced a new clip from the movie, featuring their characters reuniting.
(L to R) Catherine Laga’aia and Dwayne Johnson speak during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Cinemacon 2026 on April 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney.
Next up is Disney’s ongoing effort to convert all of their animated output to live-action movies. ‘Moana’, which was a huge success in cartoon form back in 2016, is back with a mostly new cast, though retained Dwayne Johnson as Maui.
He was on stage to discuss the film and gush about how much Maui means to him and how his performance was inspired by his grandfather. Johnson was joined by Catherine Laga’aia, who plays Moana, and she revealed that she’d done her very first interview for the movie today.
And, as is standard, we got some new footage from the movie.
It’s set after the world’s population has been ravaged by a pandemic, and follows Elordi’s Hig, who lives a lonesome existence in a Colorado airplane hangar with his dog and a dour gunman (Brolin) he has befriended. When a mysterious transmission comes through on the radio while he’s flying his old Cessna, it sparks a hunt for the provenance of the sound.
Scott brought the audience first new trailer for the movie, which you can find above, and an early scene.
We’re clearly in the “originals” section (okay, both ‘The Dog Stars’ and this are adapted from novels), as ‘Whalefall’ was next.
The movie follows a scuba diver in search of his deceased father’s remains gets swallowed by an 80-foot, 60-ton sperm whale and has only one hour to escape before his oxygen runs out. After giving up on life, the young man is surprised to find a reason to live in the most dangerous and unlikely of places. Oh, and like Ridley Scott’s movie, this also features Josh Brolin.
‘Whalefall’ comes from director Brian Duffield, who previously brought us ‘No One Will Save You’. And the first look at the movie finds the main character, played by Austin Abrams, getting drawn into the mouth of the whale.
Andrew Cripps, Head of Theatrical Distribution, Disney Entertainment Studios speaks during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Cinemacon 2026 on April 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney.
The latest from Disney’s own animation studio sees what happens when an awkward teenage girl and her Type-A mom discover that what makes her unusual might be magical powers that will turn their lives and a secret world of magic upside down.
(L to R) Queen Latifah, Denis Leary and Ray Romano speak during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Cinemacon 2026 on April 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney.
Some of the voice cast, including Ray Romano (Manny), Denis Leary (Diego), and Queen Latifah (Ellie) took the stage to introduce the first look at the sixth (count ’em) main movie in the franchise.
We got a look at footage from the beginning of the movie, which features an adorable baby Scratch (the squirrel, in case you forgot).
(L to R) Anthony Russo, Robert Downey Jr., Joe Russo, Chris Evans and Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios speak during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Cinemacon 2026 on April 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney.
Of course Marvel was going to wrap things up with what Disney is hoping will be one of, if not the biggest film of the year. No pressure, then…
Marvel boss Kevin Feige arrived on stage to discuss ‘Doomsday’ and introduce something called ‘Infinity Vision’ which will enhance the viewing experience (read more about that here). He also mentioned that ‘Avengers: Endgame’ will be back in theaters ahead of the new movie.
Chris Evans speaks during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Cinemacon 2026 on April 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney.
Feige was joined by directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who talked about how Doctor Doom (played in the new movie, of course, by Robert Downey Jr.) is the best Marvel villain because he’s always three steps ahead.
And then it was the turn of the man himself (RDJ, not Doom), on stage to announce he wants to give away all the spoilers, but isn’t permitted (and anyway, that’s Tom Holland‘s job).
(L to R) Anthony Russo, Robert Downey Jr., Joe Russo, Chris Evans and Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios speak during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Cinemacon 2026 on April 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney.
A first proper trailer for ‘Doomsday’ played (lots of X-Men) action, and Chris Evans appeared on stage to admit he was only going to return to the MCU for a good reason (no jokes about dump trucks full of money, please). There was a mock argument between RDJ and Evans about their characters.
The trailer played a second time, and let’s just say this… there was screaming in the audience.
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And with that, Disney’s out! Which also marks the end of the studio presentations. Hope you enjoyed our coverage!
(L to R) Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Ray Romano and Denis Leary attend the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Cinemacon 2026 on April 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Disney.
As with Johansson, Stan’s casting is neither confirmed, nor do we know what role he might play. Though if you ask us, he’s a possible candidate for Harvey Dent/Two-Face, assuming Reeves is even including the character.
Little is known officially about what Robert Pattinson’s Caped Crusader will tackle, but we do know that Colin Farrell is likely to return as Oz Cobb, the villainous gangster nicknamed “The Penguin” while ‘The Batman’ actors Andy Serkis (Alfred) and Jeffrey Wright (James Gordon) are also predicted to be back.
We can probably expect to see Batman tackle another menace from his rogues’ gallery, with Barry Keoghan teased as a potential Joker at the end of the original movie, but nothing confirmed about him actually playing the role.
And there had been chatter about Clayface, but with the character set to get his own movie within the main DC Studios universe (as opposed to ‘The Batman’, which falls under the ‘Elseworlds’ banner of movies/TV that don’t fit there), we’d expect someone else to threaten our hero.
Following a variety of release date shifts as Reeves and co-writer Mattson Tomlin honed the script, the movie is currently set to land on screens on October 1, 2027.
Moviefone has compiled a list of the most anticipated movies opening in theaters and/or streaming in 2026, which not only includes major studio releases but also smaller independent films that you won’t want to miss.
Daisy Ridley in ‘We Bury the Dead’. Photo: Vertical.
After a catastrophic military disaster, the dead don’t just rise – they hunt. Ava (Daisy Ridley) searches for her missing husband, but what she finds is far more terrifying.
In a race against time, an ailing woman (Lucy Liu) discovers her teenage son’s (Lawrence Shou) violent obsessions and must go to great lengths to protect him, and possibly others, in this portrait of a Chinese American family. Inspired by true events.
Imogen Poots in ‘The Chronology of Water’. Photo: The Forge .
Directed by Kristen Stewart, growing up in an environment torn apart by violence and alcohol, a young woman (Imogen Posts) finds her voice through the written word and her salvation as a swimmer.
(L to R) Gerard Butler as John Garrity, Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity, and Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity in ‘Greenland 2: Migration’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
Having found the safety of the Greenland bunker after the comet Clarke decimated the Earth, the Garrity family (Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin and Roman Griffin Davis) must now risk everything to embark on a perilous journey across the wasteland of Europe to find a new home.
Johnny Sequoyah as “Lucy” in ‘Primate’ from Paramount Pictures.
Home from college, Lucy (Johnny Sequpyah) reunites with family including pet chimp Ben. Ben contracts rabies during a pool party and turns aggressive. Lucy and friends barricade in pool, devising ways to survive the vicious chimp.
(L to R) Dacre Montgomery as Richard ‘Dick’ Hall and Bill Skarsgård as Tony Kiritsis in ‘Dead Man’s Wire’. Photo: Row K Entertainment
Set in 1977 and based on a true story, Tony Kiritsis (Bill Skarsgård), a former real estate developer puts a dead man’s switch on himself and the mortgage banker (Dacre Montgomery) who did him wrong, demanding $5 million and a personal apology.
Lizzy Greene as “Renee” in the Action Thriller film, ‘The Internship’. Photo courtesy of Paramount Global Content Distribution.
A ruthless, highly trained assassin, raised from childhood in a top-secret CIA program known only as The Internship, is ready to dismantle the institution that stole her youth. Assembling her fellow interns, she leads a bloody uprising – forcing the CIA to unleash equally lethal force to stop them.
Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) finds himself in a shocking new relationship – with consequences that could change the world as they know it – and Spike’s (Alfie Williams) encounter with Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) becomes a nightmare he can’t escape.
After a team of Miami cops discovers millions in cash inside a derelict stash house, trust frays as everything — and everyone — is called into question.
A scene from ‘Sheepdog’. Photo: Allen Media Group Motion Pictures.
A decorated combat Veteran is court ordered into treatment when an ex-convict shows up on his doorstep and reveals that he must put himself back together again.
In the near future, a detective (Chris Pratt) stands on trial accused of murdering his wife. He has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to the advanced A.I. Judge (Rebecca Ferguson) he once championed, before it determines his fate.
(L to R) Alia Shawkat and Callum Turner in ‘Atropia’. Photo: Vertical.
When an aspiring actress (Alia Shawkat) in a military role-playing facility falls in love with a soldier (Callum Turner) cast as an insurgent, their unsimulated emotions threaten to derail the performance.
Aspiring small-town musician Chito (Jay Dee) is determined to make it big. When a clip of him performing one of his songs goes viral, he seizes the opportunity and pushes to carve out a place for himself in the new wave of Mexican-American music… and ultimately gets caught in a game more dangerous than anticipated.
Brendan Gleeson in ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
After losing her beloved father (Brendan Gleeson), Helen (Claire Foy) finds herself saved by an unlikely friendship with a stubborn hawk named Mabel. Through the bond, Helen rediscovers the beauty of being alive.
(L to R)Jason Biggs as “Kevin” and Meaghan Rath as “Suzie” in the Comedy, Thriller, Action and Crime film, ‘Untitled Home Invasion Romance’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
Kevin Stanwell (Jason Biggs) is an actor famous for being the mascot for erectile dysfunction ads. With his marriage on the rocks, he attempts to salvage the relationship with his wife Suzie (Meaghan Rath) by planning a trip for them to the Adirondacks. Kevin recruits his friend Ernie (Arturo Castro) to stage a home invasion to make Kevin look like a hero, but when the plan goes awry, the couple find themselves caught up in a murder investigation.
Two estranged half-brothers, Jonny (Jason Momoa) and James (Dave Bautista), are forced to reunite after their father’s mysterious death. As they set out to uncover the truth, buried secrets resurface and loyalties are tested, unveiling a conspiracy that can tear their family apart. Together, they are ready to wreck anything that gets in their way.
A rising pop sensation (Charli xcx) navigates fame and industry pressures while preparing for her arena tour debut, revealing the transformation of underground culture into mainstream success.
Two colleagues become stranded on a deserted island, the only survivors of a plane crash. On the island, they must overcome past grievances and work together to survive, but ultimately, it’s a battle of wills and wits to make it out alive.
Madelaine Petsch as “Maya,” in the horror film ‘The Strangers – Chapter 3’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Tethered by a frightening conclusion, Maya (Madelaine Petsch) and the Strangers are locked on an unavoidable, unforgiving collision course — a showdown that proves they’re far from strangers now.
Dafne Keen as “Chrys Willet” in the horror film, ‘Whistle’, an IFC and Shudder release. Photo courtesy of IFC and Shudder.
A misfit group of unwitting high school students stumble upon a cursed object, an ancient Aztec Death Whistle. They discover that blowing the whistle and the terrifying sound it emits will summon their future deaths to hunt them down. As the body count rises, the friends investigate the origins of the deadly artifact in a desperate effort to stop the horrifying chain of events that they have set in motion.
Olivia Colman as Hannah in a scene from Sophie Hyde’s ‘Jimpa’.
Hannah (Olivia Colman) takes her nonbinary teenager, Frances (Aud Mason-Hyde), to Amsterdam to visit their gay grandfather, Jim (John Lithgow) — lovingly known as Jimpa. But Frances’ desire to stay abroad with Jimpa for a year means Hannah is forced to reconsider her beliefs about parenting and finally confront old stories about the past.
(L to R) Kevin James and Kim Coates in ‘Solo Mio’. Photo: Courtesy of Angel Studios.
After Matt’s (Kevin James) dreams of a picturesque Italian wedding are shattered when his fiancée leaves him at the altar, he embarks on his planned honeymoon across Italy alone, immersing himself in the country’s vibrant culture, food, and beauty, meeting Gia along the way.
The story follows Will (Caleb McLaughlin), a small goat with big dreams who gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to join the pros and play roarball – a high-intensity, co-ed, full-contact sport dominated by the fastest, fiercest animals in the world. Will’s new teammates aren’t thrilled about having a little goat on their roster, but Will is determined to revolutionize the sport and prove once and for all that “smalls can ball!”
When an elusive thief (Chris Hemsworth) whose high-stakes heists unfold along the iconic 101 freeway in Los Angeles eyes the score of a lifetime, with hopes of this being his final job, his path collides with a disillusioned insurance broker (Halle Berry) who is facing her own crossroads, forcing the two to collaborate. Determined to crack the case, a relentless detective (Mark Ruffalo) closes in on the operation, raising the stakes even higher.
(L to R) Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff and Actor, Producer Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw in ‘Wuthering Heights’, a Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.
A passionate and tumultuous love story set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, exploring the intense and destructive relationship between Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi) and Catherine Earnshaw (Margot Robbie).
Jason Isaacs in Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli’s ‘Honey Bunch’. Courtesy of Cat People.
Diana’s (Grace Glowicki) husband (Jason Isaacs) is taking her to an experimental trauma facility deep in the wilderness, but she can’t remember why… As her memories begin to creep back in so do some unwelcome sinister truths about her marriage.
Following the brutal murder of her husband, a Kansas highway patrol officer sets out on a journey to track down the perpetrator. As the hunt progresses, she comes to realize the man responsible is a sadistic serial killer, and the depth of his mental depravity and his sinister agenda is more twisted than anyone could have imagined.
Milo Ventimiglia as Tim in ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’. Photo: Jake Giles Netter.
After the breakout success of the song “I Can Only Imagine,” MercyMe’s Bart Millard (J. Michael Finley) is living the dream—sold-out arenas, a devoted fan base, and a thriving career. But behind the spotlight, Bart’s past threatens the family he’s built, especially the fragile bond with his son, Sam (Sammy Dell). When hopeful newcomer Tim Timmons (Milo Ventinmiglia) joins the band for their biggest tour yet, he unknowingly brings a renewed gratitude to Bart’s life through their unlikely friendship. Bart soon discovers that Tim carries hardships—and secrets—of his own, forcing him to face his past and repair his relationships with Sam and his wife, Shannon (Sophie Skelton), before fame costs him what matters most.
Neve Campbell stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream 7.’
When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter (Isabel May) becomes the next target. Determined to protect her family, Sidney must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all.
Elvis Presley in ‘EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert’. Photo: Neon.
From director Baz Luhrmann mix of a documentary and concert film made using unused footage from ‘Elvis: That’s the Way It Is‘, the film of Elvis’ legendary 1970 Summer Festival in Las Vegas and Elvis’s road concert film from two years later, Elvis on Tour, that were found during the production of 2022’s ‘Elvis‘.
Scientists have discovered how to “hop” human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals. Animal lover Mabel (Piper Curda) seizes an opportunity to use the technology, uncovering mysteries within the animal world that are beyond anything she could have imagined.
A lonely Frankenstein (Christian Bale) travels to 1930s Chicago to ask groundbreaking scientist Dr. Euphronious (Annette Bening) to create a companion for him. The two revive a murdered young woman and The Bride (Jessie Buckley) is born. But what ensues is beyond what either of them imagined.
Nate’s (Nate Bargatze) supermom wife, Katie (Mandy Moore), lands a deal on ‘Shark Tank‘. Subsequently, the lifelong breadwinner of the family becomes a stay-at-home dad and quickly realizes he’s in way over his head.
When Diem’s (Zoe Kosovic) custodial grandparents adamantly refuse Kenna’s (Maika Monroe) attempts to see her, she discovers unexpected compassion, and then something truer and deeper, with former NFL player and local bar owner Ledger (Tyriq Withers). As their secret romance develops, so do the dangers for both of them, leading Kenna toward heartbreak and, ultimately, the hope for a second chance.
A still from the action, sci-fi and adventure film, ‘Storm Rider: Legend of Hammerhead’, a Blue Harbor Entertainment release. Photo courtesy of Blue Harbor Entertainment.
300 years after the Big Flood, the legend of an outlawed Storm Rider inspires two rebellious islanders to find out the truth about the origin of their world.
Ryan Gosling in ‘Project Hail Mary’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), a school-teacher-turned-astronaut, wakes up from a coma, alone, on a space station with no memory of who he is or his mission. His memory returns in bursts and he pieces together that he was sent to the Tau Ceti solar system, 12 light-years from Earth, to reverse the impact of a space event that had already hurled our planet into the early stages of an Ice Age. As details of the mission unravel, Grace must call on all of his scientific training and sheer ingenuity, but he might not have to do it alone…
Moments after surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace (Samara Weaving) discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game — and this time with her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) at her side. Grace has one chance to survive, keep her sister alive, and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins rules it all.
(L to R) Anna (Halle Bailey) and Michael (Regé-Jean Page) in ‘You, Me & Tuscany’, directed by Kat Coiro. Photo: Giulia Parmigiani/Universal Pictures.
Free-spirited Italian chef (Halle Bailey) and reserved British lawyer (Regé-Jean Page) embark on a whirlwind romance during a destination wedding in coastal Italy.
Oil tycoon Merriell Sunday Sr. and renowned adventurer Hollis Bannister have disappeared without a trace. Their last known location is northern Alaska. Ellie Bannister and Merriell Sunday Jr., set out to search for their missing fathers and the truth behind what made them vanish. As the rescue team heads deeper into the heart of this frozen landscape, danger mounts. Something has taken notice of their trespassing expedition…and that prehistoric something is now stalking them…hunting them.
Bob Odenkirk in ‘Normal’. Photo: Magnolia Pictures.
In the aftermath of a bank robbery, interim sheriff Ulysses (Bob Odenkirk) uncovers a criminal conspiracy at the heart of his small-town Minnesota community.
Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson.
The story of Michael Jackson’s (Jaafar Jackson) life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world.
Long-buried wounds rise to the surface when iconic pop star Mother Mary (Anne Hathaway) reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer Sam Anselm on the eve of her comeback performance.
Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) navigates her career amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing. She faces off against Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), her one-time assistant, now a high-powered executive for a luxury group, with advertising dollars that Priestly desperately needs.
A scene from ‘Animal Farm’. Photo: Courtesy of Angel Studios.
A satirical allegory of revolution and power that traces how a movement for equality is systematically corrupted. As the pigs consolidate control, truth is erased, dissent is crushed and the farm descends into a ruthless dictatorship.
(Right) Karl Urban as Johnny Cage in ‘Mortal Kombat 2’. Photo: Warner Bros.
The fan favorite champions—now joined by Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) himself—are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.
The film follows George Hardy (Hugh Jackman), a shepherd who loves his sheep and raises them only for their wool. Every night he reads aloud a murder mystery, pretending his sheep can understand, never suspecting that not only can they understand but they argue for hours afterwards about whodunnit. When George is found dead under mysterious circumstances, the sheep realize at once that it was a murder and think they know everything about how to go about solving it. The local cop Tim Derry (Nicholas Braun), on the other hand, has never solved a serious crime in his life, so the sheep conclude they will have to solve it themselves, even if it means leaving their meadow for the first time and facing the fact that the human world isn’t as simple as it appears in books.
After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.
The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu.
Nicholas Galitzine in 2026’s ‘Masters of the Universe’. Photo: Nicholas Galitzine’s Instagram Account / Amazon MGM Studios.
Almost two decades after crashing down to Earth, Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) is whisked back across space to defend his home planet of Eternia against the evil forces of Skeletor (Jared Leto). But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam will first need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man: the most powerful man in the Universe.
When Bonnie receives a Lilypad tablet as a gift and becomes obsessed, Buzz (Tim Allen), Woody (Tom Hanks), Jessie (Joan Cusack) and the rest of the gang’s jobs become exponentially harder when they have to go head to head with the all-new threat to playtime.
While celebrating her 21st birthday, Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) travels across the galaxy with her dog Krypto, during which she meets the young Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley) and goes on a “murderous quest for revenge”.
William Franklyn-Miller in ‘Young Washington’. Photo: Courtesy of Angel Studios.
Against the frontier of colonial America, the untold origin story of a 22-year-old George Washington (William Franklyn-Miller) unfolds—long before the Revolution, long before the Constitution—when a single mistake nearly cost him everything. After triggering the start of the French and Indian War, Washington must reckon with personal failure, devastating loss, and the weight of responsibility. What emerges from the ashes isn’t just a military leader—but a man forged by humility, courage, and conviction.
In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by Maui (Dwayne Johnson) reaches the island of an impetuous Chieftain, his willful daughter (Catherine Laga‘aia) answers the Ocean’s call to seek out the demigod to set things right.
Matt Damon is Odysseus in ‘The Odyssey’, written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, embarks on a long and perilous journey home following the Trojan War, chronicling his encounters with mythical beings such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and the witch-goddess Circe.
Destin Daniel Cretton (director, ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’) at CinemaCon 2025 for Sony Pictures at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on March 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Stewart Cook/Sony Pictures via Getty Images.
The fourth installment in the Spider-Man franchise and part of Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Lily James in ‘Cliffhanger’. Photo: Rocket Science.
During a weekend trip with a billionaire’s son, seasoned mountaineer Ray Cooper (Pierce Brosnan) and his daughter Sydney (Nell Tiger Free) are targeted by a gang of kidnappers. Ray’s other daughter Naomi (Lily James), still haunted by a past climbing accident, witnesses the attack and escapes. To save her family, she must confront her fears and fight for survival.
A Hollywood horror tale centering on a B-movie actor (Tom Rhys Harries) who injects himself with a substance to keep himself relevant, only to find out that he can reshape his face and form, becoming a walking piece of clay.
Zach Cregger (director, ‘Resident Evil’) at CinemaCon 2025 for Sony Pictures at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on March 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Stewart Cook/Sony Pictures via Getty Images.
Described as a reboot that won’t retell a story from the game series, but will return to the franchise’s suspense/horror roots and be more faithful to the spirit of the early games. The film will attempt to capture “the moment that comes in every ‘Resident Evil’ game where you find yourself standing in the mouth of a dark passageway with one shot left in the gun, and you know something horrible is waiting for you in that darkness – that awful moment where you have to will yourself forward.” The film will “follow one central protagonist from point A to point B, as they descend deeper into hell.”
(L to R) Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman in ‘Practical Magic’. Photo: Warner Bros.
A multi generational family of witches, cursed to be loveless for centuries, attempts to break the spell by confronting dark secrets and sacrificing for each other.
Frances Haugen (Mikey Madison), a young Facebook engineer, enlists the help of Jeff Horwitz (Jeremy Allen White), a Wall Street Journal reporter, to go on a dangerous journey that ends up blowing the whistle on the social network’s most guarded secrets.
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‘Street Fighter’ (10/16)
Jason Momoa in ‘Street Fighter’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
In 1993, estranged Street Fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament: a brutal clash of fists, fate, and fury. But behind this battle royale lies a deadly conspiracy that forces them to face off against each other and the demons of their past. And if they don’t, it’s GAME OVER!
A scene from 2026’s ‘The Cat in the Hat’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Doing what he does best, the Cat (Bill Hader) spreads joy to kids in his hilarious, signature, and singularly irreverent way, transporting them and audiences on a fantastical journey through a world they’ve never seen before. Our hero takes on his toughest assignment yet for the I.I.I.I. (Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration, LLC) to cheer up Gabby (Xochitl Gomez) and Sebastian (Tiago Martinez), a pair of siblings struggling to move to a new town. Known for taking things too far, this could be this agent of chaos’ last chance to prove himself…or lose his magical hat!
(L to R) Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird and Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’. Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Return to the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games for the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Chris Evans in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
Preview:
Chris Evans has been confirmed as returning to the MCU.
He shows up in the first teaser for ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’
The footage was shown before ‘Avatar: Fire & Ash.’
While the man himself has been cagey in the past as to whether his time with the Marvel Cinematic Universe is done, there were reports back in December of last year that pointed to more MCU time for Chris Evans as Steve “Captain America” Rogers.
Chris Evans in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
If you haven’t taken yourself out to one of the initial showings of James Cameron’s latest ‘Avatar’ movie, and you really want to know what’s included in the ‘Doomsday’ footage, read on…
The teaser shows Steve riding home on a motorbike, wearing a helmet reminiscent of his time as Captain America. He’s then seen handling his old uniform and cradling what is presumably his and Peggy Carter’s (Hayley Atwell) newborn child.
This first tease ends with “Steve Rogers will return for ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’ ” A countdown timer begins at the end that’s set to expire a year from now when ‘Doomsday’ hits theaters.
The cast for the next big Avengers team-up promises a mix of faces both old and new.
Robert Downey Jr. is back, though this time playing Big Bad Doctor Doom (Marvel has yet to reveal whether he’ll be a new character or a variant of Downey’s Tony Stark).
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kelsey Grammer about his work on ‘Turbulence’, his first reaction to the screenplay, shooting the balloon scenes, his character, and working with the cast and the director, as well as telling us about his experience shooting the upcoming ‘Avengers: Doomsday’.
Kelsey Grammer as “Harry” in the action thriller ‘Turbulence’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Grammer and Olga Kurylenko.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay?
Kelsey Grammer: Well, I liked it because it’s a classic exercise to say, “Okay, let’s take an action movie and make everybody sit in a box and see what happens.” So, it’s a perfect overlay on what’s an emotional situation anyway. Because of the cramped space, emotions tend to get a little higher, a little quicker, a little more frenzied. There’s a sense of claustrophobia about it. So yeah, it’s a good device and I think it bore fruit. You’re sitting there going with one person’s a liar, one person’s an absolute scoundrel, and one guy’s a complete innocent, and the other’s just a nice person who got taken for a bit of a ride and is innocent. It’s cool to see how that plays out.
MF: Can you talk about how you shot the balloon scenes?
KG: Yeah, it’s very confined. Honestly, the whole thing was shot in a basket. It really was. Everything I did was just in a basket. It was on a green screen, on a soundstage. We did one thing outside, like the very first scene where I’d say, “Oh, hi, here’s somebody else coming.” Then they just hoisted the basket up with a crane, I think. I said something like, “Here we go.” But it was mostly in that basket. It was fun. I had a cast on my foot at the time. I’d just had surgery on my foot, so I was limited in movement. So that was one of the things that made it appealing to do the film as well, because we weren’t going to be moving very far. It was just the weirdest little place in Hampstead Park. But it was cool. It was nice to be out there for just that one scene, and then we were inside the rest of the time.
(L to R) Director Claudio Fäh, Hera Hilmar and Jeremy Irvine behind the scenes of the action thriller ‘Turbulence’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
MF: Can you talk about how you approached playing Harry?
KG: So, he’s like an avuncular character. He’s got a bit of wisdom. I haven’t seen the whole film, but when the truth starts to come out about the guy and all that, there’s a couple of eye rolls that an older gentleman knows, “Why be such an idiot? Why be so stupid as a young man? If you love this person, what possess you to do such a thing?” But of course, it’s the stuff the history books are filled with. It’s an old story, but my character is a gentleman, and he likes the young wife. I love that about it. He just says, “You’re going to be okay.” I think that’s great.
MF: Can you talk about working with the rest of the cast?
KG: Yeah, they were all pros. Wonderful. Everybody kind of knew what they were doing. We’d talk a little bit and rehearse a little bit and figure out what we thought was the right move, because there was a choreography involved with the cameras inside the gondola as well and where the camera operator was going to be with the lens. There was a little bit of stuff to figure out traffic-wise. But mostly, everybody showed up ready to work and they all have their note to play. So, it wasn’t hugely challenging. We got Olga then the husband, the scoundrel, Hera the hero. It was lovely. Yeah, it was a good group and we got along well, so that was nice.
(L to R) Jeremy Irvine as “Zach” and Hera Hilmar as “Emmy” in the action thriller ‘Turbulence’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
MF: What was your experience like collaborating with director Claudio Fäh on set?
KG: He knew what he was looking for. So, it was easy to say, “Yeah, okay, cool.” The only thing they were worried about was when I said I want to sing this Schubert Corral piece, the one, “Not quite his age”. I sang it back at Julliard, my first year at Julliard we would sit around in choir and sing. It’s such a beautiful piece of music, I thought. They said, “We’re nervous about paying for the rights.” I said, “It’s got to be eminent domain. Schubert died a long time ago. You’re going to be okay.” So, we kept it, and I was really excited about that.
MF: Finally, rumor is that the ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ trailer will be dropping soon. You’ve been on some big sets throughout your career, but was this the biggest and what was it like working with the Russo brothers and the rest of the cast?
KG: Very interesting. Yeah, it probably is, except I think maybe ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’, where I did Beast, that was amazing. I was picked up by a cab driver at the airport my first day, the night I flew in, and he said, “You want me to drive you by the set?” I replied, “Yeah, sure. Why not?” So, we start driving and then I see this on the horizon behind a silhouetted ridge line, I see lights, lights everywhere. It seemed like the whole horizon was lit up. Then he said, “Do you know there’s not a crane left in all of Canada because they’re all here?” Then we came up and over the rise and there was a blue screen version of the famous prison, and then right next to it was the actual prison, Alcatraz, over like three football fields. That just blew me away. When we were shooting, they would take cars, light them on fire, hoist them up on a crane and have the crane just swing them and then release them. Flaming cars were flying right by us, and you could feel the heat. So, it was an extraordinary experience.
Editorial Note: Krisily Fernstrom conducted this interview and contributed to this article.
Zach (Jeremy Irvine) and Emmy’s (Hera Hilmar) romantic retreat aboard a hot air balloon takes a terrifying turn when they are hijacked by a sinister third passenger (Olga Kurylenko) with a link to Zach’s past. As the mystery of their secret relationship is revealed, their spectacular ride becomes a brutal mental chess match and a lethal battle high in the sky.
Who is in the cast of ‘Turbulence’?
Jeremy Irvine as Zach
Hera Hilmar as Emmy
Olga Kurylenko as Julia
Kelsey Grammer as Harry
‘Turbulence’ opens in theaters, On Demand and Digital December 12th.
Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige at Disney’s 2024 CinemaCon Presentation. Photo: Disney.
Preview:
Kevin Feige has given a wide-ranging interview about the state of Marvel.
He touched on the delays with ‘Blade’.
He also admitted that recent disappointments necessitated a change in thinking.
With the studio’s latest giant release –– and one of its biggest gambles in years on the way via ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, Marvel boss Kevin Feige took the opportunity to address some of the topics that have been floating around, including recent underperforming movies and TV series under the Marvel Cinematic Universe, his own future (spoiler alert: he aims to stick around!) and more.
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Among the other subjects? The long-gestating and troubled development of a new ‘Blade’ movie, and his team’s new seven-year plan for new movies and shows and whether we’ll see actors from end credits cameos in the future.
(Left) Mahershala Ali attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California. Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images. (Right) Marvel Studios’ ‘Blade.’
Blade, the Daywalking half-human-half-vampire character most famously played by Wesley Snipes, was announced for a reboot back at 2019’s San Diego Comic-Con. Since then, it has been a drawn-out log of multiple script drafts, directors coming and going, different time periods considered and, all through it, Oscar winner Mahershala Ali staying attached to the lead role.
Here’s what Feige had to say about it:
“You can start and have a good script and make it a great script through production, but we didn’t feel confident we could do that on ‘Blade’. We didn’t want to do that to Mahershala and didn’t want to do that to us. we landed on modern day and that’s what we’re focusing on. We didn’t want to put a leather outfit on Mahershala and have him start killing vampires.”
Feige also joked that Ryan Coogler –– who is developing a third ‘Black Panther’ outing for the company –– added to the delay by utilizing some of the costumes the company had created for a Prohibition-era take on the story in his own recent hit, ‘Sinners’.
The executive also touched on complaints that the sheer output and deepened connectivity between the Disney+ MCU series and the big screen outings were feeling like homework and turning off viewers who hadn’t seen them, which in turn hurt the box office revenues of ‘The Marvels’ and ‘Thunderbolts*’:
“Some of them were still feeling the residual effects of that notion of, ‘I guess I had to have seen these other shows to understand who this is,’ I think if you actually saw the movie, that wouldn’t be the case, and we make the movie so that’s not the case. But I think we still have to make sure the audience understands that.”
According to Feige, the company has a seven-year plan to take it up to 2032, admitting that while he most much of it will stay on track, projects are on magnets on a board in a conference room so they can move around as necessary.
His answer wasn’t entirely convincing, but he took a stab at explaining the change:
“We had started even before what had happened to the actor happened, we had started to realize that Kang wasn’t big enough, wasn’t Thanos, and that there was only one character that could be that, because he was that in the comics for decades and decades. Because of the Fox acquisition, we finally had it, and it was Dr. Doom. So we had started talking about Dr. Doom even before we officially pivoted from Kang. And in fact, I had started talking with Robert [Downey Jr.] about this audacious idea before ‘Ant-Man 3’ even came out. It was a long plan that we had, to take one of our greatest characters and utilize one of our greatest actors.”
What’s next for Marvel?
As mentioned, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ lands in theaters on Friday.
Sacha Baron Cohen makes his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Mephisto in ‘Ironheart’.
Mephisto makes a deal with Riri Williams to bring back her friend Natalie, which is sure to have serious consequences.
Mephisto will likely be a big part of the MCU moving forward.
SPOILER ALERT: Spoilers for ‘Ironheart’ below.
Ever since ‘WandaVision‘, Marvel fans have been speculating when and where Mephisto will show up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and now the time has finally come. Sacha Baron Cohen portrays the demon in ‘Ironheart‘, making his debut in the season one finale. While the Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) led series may not continue with a season two, Mephisto is likely not going anywhere, and is sure to have a major impact on the future of the MCU.
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There is a reason fans have been begging for Mephisto to show up. He is known for making deals and mucking things up. While he looks like the devil, he is not Lucifer, but he certainly allows others to think he is. In Marvel Comics he has ties to many characters that have already been introduced, most notably Scarlet Witch, Thor, and Doctor Strange, as well as others that are coming soon including Doctor Doom and Franklin Richards.
Mephisto is powerful, extra-dimensional demon. As showcased in ‘Ironheart’ he is a master manipulator who almost always gets his way. His deal with Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos) corrupted him, leaving him with scars all over his body and an obsession with the cloak he was gifted. When Mephisto decided to be done with him, he simply moved onto his next victim, Riri Williams.
While the demon behind Parker’s hood was initially suspected to be Dormamu, the finale reveals that this is not the truth. It is, indeed, Mephisto, something that is sure to make fans jump up and down with glee, since his debut in the MCU has been long-awaited. During his final conversation with Parker, he admits to being very busy, hinting that he has had his hands in a lot of the events that have been taking place over the course of previous Marvel projects.
After Riri defeats Parker, Mephisto appears to her, inviting her to sit down for a meal. He is very charasmatic and during their conversation, she ends up making a deal with him. Her friend Natalie (Lyric Ross) was murdered, but she was able to bring her back as an AI, only to lose her again. This is something that Riri is not able to deal with, so she asks Mephisto to bring her back.
In the end-credit sequence it is discovered that this is not an AI version of Natalie, but rather the actual Natalie, who is very confused and does not remember her fate. This is likely to cause a lot of problems for Riri going forward, because how to you explain someone returning to the world after being dead for several years?
Why Sacha Baron Cohen Is The Perfect Casting Choice For Mephisto
Sacha Baron Cohen as Mephisto in ‘Ironheart’. Photo: Disney+.
Casting Sacha Baron Cohen as Mephisto is a brilliant choice for several reasons. All you have to do is take one look at his scenes in the ‘Ironheart’ finale to know this. He is able portray someone who is trusting as well as mischievous. His human form is unsuspecting enough, but it is the fact that he knows how to pull information from his victims to discover what would be worth it to them to forfeit their souls.
For Parker Robbins, he wanted revenge against his father and money. For Riri Williams, she just wants her friend back, especially after getting a taste of what it was like to have her back in her life. The kicker for her is that this version of Natalie will not remember all of the healing and growing they did together when Natalie was an AI.
Sacha Baron Cohen is great at playing a character. We have seen that with his films like ‘Borat‘ and ‘Bruno‘. Even though Mephisto is mostly in his human form, there is one quick shot of him in his demon form, seen in a reflection, that is equal parts chilling and exciting. Sacha Baron Cohen, if given the chance, will bring Mephisto to life in a way that fans could seemingly only have imagined.
Mephisto Can Easily Return In ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Or ‘Champions’
What fans have seen in the ‘Ironheart’ finale is just a small glimpse at what Mephisto is capable of. In the comics, he is the reason that Billy and Tommy Maximoff even exist. While they were created by their mother’s chaos magic, this was done in tandem with parts of Mephisto. At one point he goes so far as to reabsorb them. However, they find a way to return. This exact scenario is not likely to play out in the MCU, but it would make sense for the twins to cross paths with the Mephisto eventually, likely in a ‘Young Avengers’ or ‘Champions’ title.
It is not far fetched to believe that Mephisto could have orchestrated the events of ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘ as well. As we have seen, he is known for making deals and has the ability to bring people back from the dead. With Robert Downey, Jr. returning to the MCU, this time as Victor Von Doom and not Tony Stark, there is a chance Mephisto could absolutely be behind it. If someone wanted to make a deal with him to bring Stark back, it absolutely makes sense that this was Mephisto’s evil twist on things.
While it has not been revealed the lasting effect that Mephisto will have on the MCU, there is no way he is being introduced for Marvel to then do nothing with him. He is a powerful, manipulative demon who only has his own best interest at heart. One thing is for sure, our heroes are in trouble now that he is in the mix.
Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther in 2018’s ‘Black Panther.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.
Preview:
Marvel Comics has revealed a new Black Panther named Ketema, who is T’Challa’s son and caucasian.
The story should not be adapted for the big screen for several reasons.
Ryan Gosling has been fan-cast, but he can (and should) play someone else in the MCU.
When Chadwick Boseman passed away, he left a hole in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that, let’s be honest, likely no one will be able to fill. He perfectly embodied T’Challa in ‘Black Panther‘. He knew how to light up a room with his smile and laugh.
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There has been a lot of debate about whether the role should ever be recast or if there should be a new Black Panther altogether. For now, Shuri (Letitia Wright) has taken up the mantle, as fans saw in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘. She fit seamlessly into the story, and it makes all the sense in the world for her to continue representing Wakanda.
While many have been calling for a new Black Panther to step into the MCU, the recent Marvel Comics’ storyline is not the way to do it. Here’s why.
New Black Panther In Marvel Comics Explained
T’Challa’s son, Ketema. Photo: Marvel Comics.
In ‘Marvel Knights: The World To Come #1’ fans were introduced to a new Black Panther. Ketema is the son of T’Challa and Monica Lynne, or so it appears with panels flashing back to images of a pregnant Monica.
In the comic, T’Challa and Ketema engage in a tribal challenge, during which Ketema gets the upper hand on his father. When he takes off his mask, it is revealed that he is caucasian with blond hair. Both T’Challa and Monica are Black, leading readers to believe this cannot be the same child that Monica was pregnant with while married to T’Challa.
Is Ketema T’Challa’s biological son? Is he a son from a previous relationship with Nicole Adams, a caucasian woman T’Challa was involved with? There are a lot of questions, but not a lot of answers, as the limited series comic book run is just getting started. Over the next few month those answers will come, but in the meantime, this story does not come across as one that should be adapted for the big screen.
Why This Story Would Not Translate Well To The MCU
The first reason Marvel should choose not to adapt this storyline is probably the most obvious one. We already have a Black Panther in Shuri. Letitia Wright is confirmed to reprise her role as Shuri in ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘ so it makes no sense for Marvel to replace her and bring in a new Black Panther. At least not yet. She has a lot more to give us.
We also already have another Black Panther lined up to take her place, when the time comes. In the post-credit scene for ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ it is revealed that T’Challa had a son with Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o). He is named Toussaint and he is being raised outside of Wakanda.
For Marvel to set a storyline up in a post-credit scene and then completely abandon it is not unheard of, but it would be particularly frustrating this time around. They cannot get away with never talking about him again, and if they do decide to retcon his part of the story, fans will likely be outraged. Rightfully so.
Realistically the studio can do whatever they want and claim that it works within the story because of how they have set themselves up. With the multiverse blown wide open, there is no reason they can’t have a new Black Panther step through a portal from another universe and try to take up the mantle.
That said, to do so would be extremely lazy writing. Even with the multiverse established, Marvel needs to stop relying on it to explain away situations. Viewers are getting sick of it, and for good reason. Surely this is how The Fantastic Four is going to enter the MCU. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is probably going to use that explination a lot, and honestly, that should be the last time Marvel leans on the multiverse for help.
Ryan Gosling Might Not Be The Next Black Panther, But He Should Join The MCU
‘Star Wars: Starfighter’s Ryan Gosling at Star Wars Celebration 2025. Photo: Lucasfilm.
With the reveal of the new Black Panther to be white, fans immediately started choosing their dream cast. Ryan Gosling ended up at the top of the list, unsurprisingly. Years ago there was a meme of him as Black Panther, now fans are hoping it will become a reality.
Rumors of Ryan Gosling joining the ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ cast had already been circulating, making this casting even more likely. While he is an incredibly talented actor, and should absolutely join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are plenty of other roles he could take on.
Prior to Marvel Comics releasing this issue, many thought he had been offered the role of Ghost Rider. Not only does this seem like a much better fit for him, it would ensure that he could stick around for a while longer. If Marvel decides to adapt this version of Black Panther, the odds of that character continuing on the mantle for long is highly unlikely.
Nicolas Cage in 2007’s ‘Ghost Rider’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
As we said above, T’Challa’s son and heir to the throne has already been teased. Shuri is currently protecting Wakanda and does not appear to be stepping down any time soon. If Ketema was to come to the big screen, it would likely be as an antagonist for a third Black Panther film. Ryan Gosling would be such a great get for the MCU that it would be unlikely for them to use him in this way.
While there are many Marvel characters he would be great at playing, Ghost Rider is the perfect choice. Not only has he expressed interest in portraying the character, Ryan Gosling would be instantly believable as someone who is vengeful but just and often finds himself displaying empathy, despite his terrifying exterior.
Marvel has opted out of a Hall H panel at SDCC 2025
This decision doesn’t mean they don’t have confidence in upcoming projects
James Gunn’s DCU will likely be the big headliner
Marvel has announced that they will not be hosting a Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025. After last year’s incredible line-up, this does not surprise me. While I still think it is possible for them to have a surprise screening of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘, just like they did for ‘Deadpool & Wolverine‘ last year, their skipping out on a full panel this year makes perfect sense.
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Superhero fatigue is real. ‘Thunderbolts*’ is a great movie – audiences and critics agree – and yet it did not perform at the box office. It would not be smart for Marvel to spend a ton of money putting on a massive panel (because there is no point in doing one and not going all out) when they need to save all the pennies they can right now.
Marvel has three more projects left to release in 2025: ‘Ironheart‘, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, ‘Eyes of Wakanda‘, and ‘Wonder Man‘.
‘Ironheart’, which admittedly Marvel seems to be trying to make people forget about, will be all released by the time San Diego Comic-Con rolls around. The first three episodes come to Disney+ on June 24th, and the final three follow just a week later, on July 2nd. It has been a long time since viewers have seen Riri Williams, so this series needs to be good to make viewers care about her again.
In Marvel comics, she has a close relationship with Tony Stark. Of course, he is no longer alive in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has some fans a little bit worried about how her story is going to play out. The trailer for the show looks great, but there will be no need to promote it at SDCC a couple of weeks after it is already streaming on Disney+.
The same can be said for ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, although it comes to theaters the week of SDCC, on July 25th. In 2024, Marvel hosted a “surprise” screening of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ on Thursday evening to celebrate its release that week. It is highly likely that they do the same with ‘First Steps’ this year. One would almost think that they had this planned all along, and that is why they like to take the release slot for the week of San Diego Comic-Con.
This saves them from having to pay for an entire panel, but they will still be able to promote their final big project of 2025. If they follow suit from last year, they just might have the cast in attendance as well.
The only 2025 projects that Marvel would be showcasing at a Hall H panel would be the upcoming animated show, ‘Eyes of Wakana’, and ‘Wonder Man’. While we have heard very little about both, there is no reason to save an entire Hall H panel for two projects, and streaming series at that.
‘Eyes of Wakanda’ is a four-episode series, which is premiering at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 9th. Since it will already be old news by the time SDCC comes around, even though the series comes to Disney+ in August, there is no need to do an entire panel just for a short animated series that, unfortunately, Marvel fans do not seem to care about too much anyway. ‘Wonder Man’ would be the only real draw and even that one fans seem to not be too excited for.
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ was recently pushed from May 1, 2026, to December 18, 2026, which is a brilliant move for several reasons, including that the studio will not need to rush out a subpar movie and can take a little bit more time to ensure it has the same impact that ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘ did.
During last year’s Marvel San Diego Comic-Con panel, they went all out for this film. Marvel invited out the Russo Brothers to tease the movie, but the biggest surprise was the reveal that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the MCU, not as Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom. It would be extremely difficult to top that, so why even try?
Filming is already underway in London for ‘Doomsday’ and is not expected to wrap until August. It would be disruptive for Marvel to shut down production (even for a day or two) in order to bring some of the cast to SDCC just for a photo opportunity and what would likely be a behind-the-scenes look at the movie. Add in the cost to fly talent back to the States for a quick appearance, the return on investment would simply not be worth it for Marvel.
Plus, now that it is releasing after San Diego Comic-Con 2026, they are likely going to wait until then to show off what they have come up with, while teasing ‘Avengers: Secret Wars‘ at the same time. It is the most logical decision for Marvel to make.
Will DC Take Over SDCC Hall H?
James Gunn at CinemaCon 2025. Photo: Warner Bros.
With Marvel out of the picture, San Diego Comic-Con is DC’s time to shine. While there is no official confirmation at the time of writing, there is a good chance that Co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran will take the stage at Hall H to share what they have in store for fans over the next couple of years.
It is well known that they have a detailed plan for the DC Universe, which kicks off on July 11th with ‘Superman‘. Sure, the movie will have been out for two weeks by SDCC, but this just means they can go into detail about all the characters that make appearances and their future projects. We already know that ‘Peacemaker‘ is heading to the convention. When confirming this on social media, James Gunn said that while he is focusing on the show, he will, of course, “talk about everything.”
It would make much more sense for DC to take advantage of Marvel skipping Hall H this year and host a large panel detailing the upcoming DCU slate. It would mean that they come out on top of the discussions that week, which would certainly not hurt, considering that ‘Superman’ will still be in theaters (and going up against the first week of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’).
Marvel might be skipping San Diego Comic-Con in 2025, but chances are, this means they are going to come with incredible announcements, first looks, and reveals in 2026. Their decision does not mean that they think any less of their upcoming projects; it actually makes a whole lot of sense. This also opens up a window for James Gunn and the DCU to step in and take over this year, which fans would love to see.
San Diego Comic-Con will take place at the San Diego Convention Center July 24th through 27th, 2025.
Disney and Marvel have shifted the release dates for the next two ‘Avengers’ movies.
‘Doomsday’ and ‘Secret Wars’ are moving from their May slots to December premieres.
Dates for ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ and ‘The Dog Stars’ were also confirmed.
Turns out, making two giant ‘Avengers’ movies back to back is going to take a little longer than originally thought.
Disney and Marvel have announced that the next two team-up films from the comic book behemoth are now set to arrive a little later in theaters than originally planned –– ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is shifting from a planned May 5th, 2026 slot to December 18th, 2026.
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Likewise, ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ will now decamp from a May 5th, 2027 release date to –– you guessed it! –– December 18th that year.
Clearly, directors Joe Russo and Anthony Russo have decided the new movies will require some more work than they figured. Which honestly, is no bad thing –– better to wait and get it right in the hopes of an ‘Infinity War’ and ‘Endgame’-level success, than pump out something quickly.
The sprawling cast for at least the first movie (we’re expecting several to appear in both) was first announced in a viral video Marvel put online showing director’s chairs with the actor’s names on them.
Simu Liu will return as Shang-Chi, a character who really has deserved a sequel before now. And Danny Ramirez, who was introduced as Joaquim Torres in ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ and reprised the role in February’s ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ will show up as the new Falcon.
Finally, because you can’t really have ‘Doomsday’ without Doom, Robert Downey Jr. is making his big MCU return, this time playing classic ‘Fantastic Four’ villain Doctor Doom.
We’re sure more cast will be announced before ‘Doomsday’ arrives, but Disney has more time to get the message out.
“We’re very close with Kevin [Feige] and Lou [D’Esposito, Marvel Studios’ Co-President] and the entire Marvel team and we’ve had conversations through the years. We’ve talked about a lot of ideas. Really what happened was, we ended up stumbling upon a [‘Secret Wars’] idea that activated all of us, you couldn’t see it coming until it came, and once it came it was like, ‘Well, that’s a story we need to tell.’”
And that creative spark extended to regular collaborator Stephen McFeely, who is also back writing the new movies.
While other co-writer Christopher Markus is so far sticking with the Russos’ AGBO company to keep it running, McFeely was tempted back into the MCU machine.
Here’s what Joe told Empire:
“There were ideas that we were trying to wrap our heads around that preceded this one, and we just never found the story. I remember calling Steve and said, ‘Hey, crazy idea. What do you think if we all go back and do Secret Wars?’ He was like, ‘F*** no. Absolutely not.’ And then he hung up. And the next morning at 7.30 he called and were like, ‘Alright, I have an idea…’ ”
‘Secret Wars’ would draw from (through the usual Marvel movie filter where changes will be made) a pair of 1980s comic book series focused on an all-powerful antagonist known as the Beyonder, who in the first installment pitted Marvel’s heroes and villains against each other on a planet known as Battleworld.
In a 2015 revival by Jonathan Hickman, the resulting conflict left the multiverse collapsed, the survivors living on a single planet ruled by classic villain Doctor Doom.
The Russos have previously talked about their enthusiasm for ‘Secret Wars,’ so this one made sense.
What other movie release dates were announced?
Director James Cameron at D23 2024 presenting ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’. Photo: Disney.
In a Thanos-like snap, three Marvel dates have disappeared from the calendar completely. The place holders for February 13th, 2026, November 6th, 2026, and November 5, 2027, have all been removed from Disney’s calendar, pointing towards the result of Marvel’s commitment to quality over quantity.
It wasn’t all Marvel changes –– Disney also confirmed the dates for some of the movies headed our way via its 20th Century Studios, including Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic thriller ‘The Dog Stars,’ starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin. That one will be released on March 27th, 2026.
Then there is sequel ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2,’ which will see the return of Meryl Streep‘s imperious magazine editor Miranda Priestly as she navigates the challenges of the declining print industry. The comedy drama sequel is due on May 1st, 2026.
